Dragons decimate Mogliano
Newport Gwent Dragons made light of hugely challenging conditions at Rodney Parade to romp home with a 53-3 bonus point win over Mogliano on Sunday.
The European Challenge Cup Round Four victory takes them level with Bayonne on 11 points but five adrift of group pacesetters London Wasps.
The Dragons had returned from Italy a week earlier with a 33-0 win under their belts but now they face tougher times in the New Year with their trip to Bayonne and welcoming Wasps to Wales.
And Lewis Evans' team – the flank in fine rampaging man of the match form – had the bonus point under lock and key shortly before the break, lock Andrew Coombes charging down an attempted clearance and popping the ball up for supporting scrumhalf Wayne Evans to dive over in the corner.
The match started as something of the Daniel Evans show, the flyhalf scoring the first try after just six minutes, converting himself and then adding a penalty goal.
Wing Michael Poole won his won kick-and-chase for the next before their superior scrum power earned the forwards a penalty try as the Mogliano eight disintegrated as they were sent into rapid retreat.
It took the Dragons until mid-way through the second period to score again, centre Patrick Leach set free to stroll over with the overworked Mogliano defence nowhere in sight.
The wilting visiting defence was then split by replacement Jonathan Evans but the spirit was still strong as they tried to put pressure on the Dragons line – only for replacement prop Phil Price to profit from a Dragons breakout and Jack Dixon wrap it up in injury time with the last.
The scorers:
For Dragons:
Tries: D Evans, Poole, Penalty, W Evans, Leach, J Evans, Price, Dixon
Cons: D Evans 3, Robling 2
Pen: D Evans
For Mogliano:
Pen: Endrizzi
Newport Gwent Dragons: 15 Hallam Amos, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Patrick Leach, 12 Ashley Smith, 11 Michael Poole, 10 Daniel Evans, 9 Jonathan Evans, 8 Ieuan Jones, 7 Lewis Evans, 6 Tom Brown, 5 Robert Sidoli, 4 Andrew Coombs, 3 Dan Way, 2 Sam Parry, 1 Owen Evans.
Replacements: 16 Hugh Gustafson, 17 Phil Price, 18 Nathan Buck, 19 Adam Jones, 20 Toby Faletau, 21 Wayne Evans, 22 Lewis Robling, 23 Jack Dixon.
Mogliano: 15 Vittorio Candiago, 14 Filippo Guarducci, 13 Enrico Ceccato, 12 Tommaso Boni, 11 Ezio Galon, 10 Edoardo Padovani, 9 Enrico Endrizzi, 8 Meyer Swanepoel, 7 Andrea Ceccato, 6 Marco Barbini, 5 Enrico Pavanello, 4 Federico Maso, 3 Massimiliano Ravalle, 2 Ivan Gianesini, 1 A Costa Repetto.
Replacements: 16 Nicola Corbanese, 17 Laert Naka, 18 Gianluca Ceneda, 19 Jacopo Bocchi, 20 Amedeo Di Pietro, 21 Alberto Lucchese, 22 Giovanni Benvenuti, 23 Antonio Giabardo.
Referee: David Wilkinson (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Eddie Hogan-O'Connell (Ireland), Darragh McCormack (Ireland)
TMO: Alan Rogan (Ireland)
